Virginia Ponder

JAMES W. GUSTAFSON JR . is a Shareholder with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., a member of the firm’s executive committee, and the managing partner of the firm’s Tallahassee office. He is a sixth generation Florida native who served with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and studied at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, before becoming a trial lawyer. Mr. Gustafson is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a worldwide organization limited to ju...

Halley B. "Hal" Lewis, III, is an 11th Generation Floridian who is Board Certified in Personal Injury Law. He has obtained more than 55 verdicts or settlements in excess of $1,000,000 for his clients over his career, and his wrongful death verdict of $75,000,000 in 1997 was the third highest in the United States for that year. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has been regularly selected to Best Lawyers in America and SuperLawyers.

Mia L. McKown is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Health Care Law. Mia L., who practices law in Tallahassee, Florida, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mia L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kimberly Hogan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Kimberly, who practices law in Tallahassee, Florida, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kimberly is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Kimberly (Kimmy) is a native Floridian, and grew up in Tallahassee. She attended Maclay School from...

CAMERON KENNEDY is a shareholder with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to representing clients in cases across the State of Florida and throughout the Southeastern United States. As a trial attorney with an unparalleled work ethic and attention to detail, Mr. Kennedy has recovered more than $100 million on behalf of his clients, including many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in cases involving dangerous and defect...

John R. Zoesch III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. John R., who practices law in Pensacola, Florida, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bruce Wiener serves as managing partner of Akerman’s Tallahassee office. Board Certified by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education in Real Estate Law, he focuses his practice on transactional real estate law, commercial lending, and land use. He represents buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of commercial, office, multifamily, student housing, acreage, and timberland property. His lender representation includes: preparing loan documents for commercial mortga...

Mohammad “Mo” Jazil is a partner with Holtzman Vogel. His broad litigation practice includes state and federal constitutional cases, white-collar criminal matters, government investigations, election disputes, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act rulemaking and enforcement cases, federal telecommunications matters, Everglades restoration, takings cases, pricing disputes, and general civil appeals. He has served as first chair in federal and state court trials; and briefed and argued ...

Randy Thompson was born in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1961 and subsequently moved with his family to Clearwater Florida where he graduated from Dunedin High School. He then attended 2 years of junior college at St. Petersburg, Junior College. Randy finished his undergraduate studies by graduating from Florida State University with honors. Three years later Randy was admitted to The Florida Bar after graduating with honors from Florida State University, College of Law. While in law school, Mr. Thom...

Hayden R. Dempsey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Government Relations Practice. Hayden R., who practices law in Tallahassee, Florida, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hayden R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.